Prayer points from Mags & Gwen in Paraguay

28th February 2011
PRAY

Thanks that school has started well. There was a very good atmosphere on the first day.

Pray for the pupils, that they will settle down to work quickly as it’s always hard after a long holiday.

Pray for the staff too as they settle back into routine.

Prayer for camps …2 should have taken place this week but it has rained heavily everyday and so we couldn’t go ahead so now we hope to take them next week, 5th and 6th grades to camp and the 3rd form to a leader’s camp to prepare them for leadership. Pray for good weather that they might be able to take place and for the spiritual input that each pupil might be challenged for Jesus. Once they have taken place the 7th and 8th grade pupils will then have their camp…some time in March.

Pray for that too and for the spiritual input there.

The newest pupils started in their nursery class this week. Pray for them as they settle into their new school and for their parents as they come into school each day.

Pray for Pastor Ronnie and Nicky working in school and planning a course for parents.

For all our bicentenary celebrations taking place over the year (main ones in May).

For all our pupils in their daily bible study and time in the school that they might know Jesus as friend , saviour and Lord.

Pray for the annexe school and for new ways of reaching the older pupils, especially the boys, for Jesus as they live in an environment where drugs and sex are rife. Life is hard for many of these pupils. Pray for the staff and pupils there too.

God Bless,

Love Gwen and Mags

Argentina Prayer

9th February 2011
Argentina, PRAY

Thank God for the nine years Greg Venables has served as presiding bishop in the Southern Cone, for his oversight of the other dioceses and for his leadership and pastoral gifts within Argentina. Pray for Greg and Silvia, for God to lead them by his grace as they continue to serve him in the diocese and for the new presiding bishop Tito Zavala of Chile.

Pray for Latin partner Mario Ágreda in Buenos Aires. Henry Scriven was much encouraged by a visit to his church in Villa Devoto prior to the Provincial Synod in November. After the sermon, Mario invited the three bishops present (Henry, Abelino from Chile and Mike Chapman from Perú) to pray for the congregation – which they did, moving from one to another, quietly talking and praying. All were conscious of God moving through his Spirit.

Agustín Marsal and Mario pastor the churches in Villa Devoto, Lomas and another church plant. Pray for all the Buenos Aires churches, asking the Lord to equip their pastors for ministry and to bless the congregations.

Friday Night Live Reflections : Chilean Miner speaks to hundreds at SAMS Gathering

7th February 2011
Chile, News

One of the Chilean miners rescued after a record 69 days trapped underground addressed hundreds of people at a mission conference in Craigavon on Friday. Jose Henriquez, along with his wife Blanca, were among the guest speakers at the “Friday Night Live” mission event organised by the South American Mission Society (SAMS) Ireland. SAMS Ireland has seen growth in recent years with around 700 people packing the Craigavon Civic Centre to hear reports of the work of the Anglican Church in Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Spain.

Jose Henriquez became known as the “Pastor” among the 33 miners because he held fast to his faith in Jesus and led the group in daily prayer and Bible reading. Speaking to the crowd in the Civic Centre through a translator, he explained how his faith helped him survive and revealed previously unknown details such as number of the miners committed their lives to Christ during the crisis. Jose’s wife Blanca, whose reunion with her husband as he emerged from the rescue capsule was seen by up to a billion people live on television, explained how her faith helped her during the ordeal.

The Rev. Alf Cooper, a SAMS prayer partner and the chaplain to the president of Chile, was translating for Jose and Blanca. Alf led the nation’s prayers during the miner crisis and was on the scene during the rescue. He is passionate about mission and is well known for his evangelism and is the leader of a rapidly growing church in Chile. Speaking at the Friday Night Live event he said, “The world witnessed a miracle when Jose was pulled from the depths of the earth. Psalm 130:1 says, “Out of the depths I cry to you Lord”, each of us can experience the same miracle when we cry out to Jesus for salvation.”

Earlier in the evening the Mayor of Craigavon Mr Stephen Moutray MLA, hosted a reception for the Chileans and key people from the SAMS Ireland family. Commenting on the event the Mayor said, “I’ve known of the excellent work of SAMS Ireland for many years. The quality of their staff and mission partners is second to none.  We’re delighted that Jose, Blanca and Alf chose Craigavon for their first visit to Northern Ireland.  There is no doubt that the Chilean Miner has left a deep impression on all of us.”

Other guest speakers at “Friday Night Live” included Gwen Carlisle and Mags Southern, teachers who have worked for over 30 years in St Andrew’s College in Asunción, an Anglican school in Paraguay.  They thanked SAMS Ireland for the quality of the teachers from Ireland who have served there as missionary teachers over the years. Several SAMS Ireland Latin American nationals working in local churches here reported on the growing trend of South American Christians pioneering mission in Ireland.

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